Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Was told by MadanMohan to start early by 5am as it would get very hot by the day. I thought biker should see it all ;) and also knew i will take time i was tired from moving around varanasi. Still not upto the mark, i take time to get moving. All by 9am. Get directions to Lucknow and inch my way. Man! Varanasi is a huge city. Even at this time the traffic was thick and the heat was ever increasing. It was an agonizing hour by the time i am out of the city. The roads were pretty good but the heat was only getting more and more. Made an early stop after just 20KMs. To Energize with a cold drink and some food. But the drink's not cold! i am tole 'Laite he naaahi hai'. Well its only the beginning.

I come out and its even hotter. The water bottles i am carrying now have hot water! Something told me that 300 kms is going to be quite long today. The roads were great. But the ambiance around was hot and dry and above all windy. Hot wind was getting to me. Ride pretty much with less stops. Also tree shades were at a premium. Added to that the continuous towns that fall on the highway were a torcher to cross in that heat. Managed a 100 kms in like 3 hours on those fantastic roads! Now its time to look for something to eat. But not on UP highways. The place is very dry in this matter and very hard to find a dhaba let alone a restaurant. Stop for water and drink some hot water. Only when i pour it onto my hand so that i can splash it on my face, do i realize how hot the water has become. Make a couple of stops in search of cold drink or water. But its not so cold as there is no electricity. By now the wind has picked up and all day have to ride against it. The effects of wind were exactly opposite of Windchill, thought of coining the term Windburn but the word is already taken for a skin desiese hehe. Pass by a attractive looking resort. Thought would be a nice break. But in UP vehicles are not given importance. Have to park the bike near the road and walk a long way in for the restaurant. No way can leave the bike out like that. So comforts so near i have move on. Get a call from Hitanshu about taking my tummy problems seriously as Ashwani had similar problems and resulted in infection. Suggests me a doc in Lucknow as medical care would not be easy ahead. Bettor i visit that in Lucknow.

I pass by a attractive looking dhaba with a fridge full of cool drinks. Though this was my chance so stopped. It turned out to be a man made mirage. Some light poles and flags to attract people, but the eating area just had shelter, no fan and the wind around blowing dust also. The fridge? well that was only a sticker on the door with cold drinks. Lol. They had some in there but same no power so not so cold. They take their own good time to get me a couple of roties while wait sweating it out. Take a water bottle from the deceiving fridge so that i can wash my face with not-hot water and drink some. I was asked if i want to rest for some time as it was very hot. But i am supposed to be a tough biker braving it all.. so i decline. only to realize later that they meant something.

I notice that i am just hovering around 70-80 and thus the slow progress. But when i try to speed up soon realize that in that sort of opposite hot wind going any faster was very tiresome and 80 is all i could ride at. This also meant more time to get there and more time on the road. The new water bottle i got gets to boiling in no time. Cant drink em. Make a couple of stops just to get new not-hot water bottles for drinking. Yeah no cold drink vender has power in his fridge, though they display a whole lot of bottles outside to attract people! Nearing Lucknow a lone cucumber vender was my saviour. Guess in a low tech place should look for low tech options. The cucumber was not hot and also refreshing. The days riding was driving me crazy. Totally unprepared for the heat and ignorant also.

Called up Vishwa and Ashish nearing Lucknow. Ashish's parents welcome me in their home to relax while Ashish comes over. It was a nice evening where we met Vishwa and his friend Sumeet and we all went out for dinner. Thanks to Ashish i have a parking space for the bike else hotels in UP dont believe in Vehicle parking!

The hotel Temple on Ganges in Varanasi...

The very helpfull host MadanMohan, made sure my stay was comfortable there...

Off to Lucknow...

Road NH56 was great though...

Some rural life beside the highway. Not going to the interior of UP though...